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It is the transmission out of the last generation Legacy. No longer the horrid POS transmission that my 05 had. Karen's 06 seems to be holding up just fine so far and Justin Rest used to launch the piss out of his car as you well know. They never had any issues with either of their transmissions. Just food for thought. I know the 09 makes more power but not really anymore torque than the 06+ cars.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

Cool. I took one for a test drive about 3-4 months ago. It was a brand new sedan (would prefer the wagon). It has 2 miles on it when we started and they took me on a 21 mile test drive It was burning off the new engine coating and was smoking at idle at around the 15 mile point

Power was impressive. It's faster 0-60 than the STI I was looking at, but I had doubts about the tranny being able to hold up to the abuse. I want a new car, but I am not convinced the new STI can get it done in BS.

For DS, I think the WRX could, but knowing the '05-'06 STI in BS is a very proven commodity for ProSolos (which would be the only thing I would use the car for autocross wise). There is still a small part of me that thinks buying a new car for *less* than what I can buy a 4 year old STI with 35-40k miles is a better route.

After subscribing to the NASIOC WRX engine issue that the '08+ WRX has had (which I think is what James is referring to), I was more hesistant about buying a grenade.

James, has they every figured out what was going on? Thanks - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Yes, since 09/2008 there is no issue, the spun bearing has been completely remedied. Steve and I both have 02/09 mfg dates so we are ok.

I think something we need to consider is the concept of the 'vocal minority' when it comes to Subaru transmissions paired with the fact that the Subaru community is becoming exceedingly boy racer as the earlier gen WRXes are getting cheaper, which means a lot of people driving them who don't know how to drive a manual transmission well: slamming gears, not rev matching, putting 3lb FW on it such that the input shaft is at idle and then is brought back UP to speed after each shift instead of dropping in speed, not being smooth with the clutch, flat foot shifting, etc etc.

There are far far far more people with 02s and even early 03s (generally thought of as the weakest trannys) that do NOT have transmissions breaking than there are who do break transmissions. Colin Anderson launches his 02 quite aggressively at both rallyx and autox and his shifts/drives fine. I think he told me that he got over 100k on the OEM clutch as well. I know of a lot of other WRX owners with 100k+ miles on their stock 5spd with lots of autox launching and/or drag racing and they are fine. It is THESE people who don't run to NASIOC and talk about how great Subaru trannys'. When things are fine, you don't announce it to the world.

Anyway, just food for thought.

Also the 09 makes only 9 ftlb more torque than the 06/07/08, but it makes within 10% of peak (244 ftlbs) as early as 2700 rpms all the way to 5600 rpms before it starts dropping off. The td04 in the 06-08 WRX does not have that torque spectrum.

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

Good to know James. Thanks, Aaron

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Hey James - just curious, do you know how the weight of the '09+ WRX compares to previous WRX's? I seem to recall reading that weight distribution was improved (57/43?).

Sounds like the '09+ WRX should do well in DS, assuming it hasn't taken on a major weight gain.

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Keith Q.
2008 Top Gun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmX8XuZ_DCo&NR=1

Aaron, I would think the 09 WRX could clean up in DS. The car is a rocket ship. There is a guy on Nasioc who was in the 12's in the quarter mile with a bone stock car on OE tires. (James might have mentioned that already.) I personally prefer the handling of the 08+ chassis over the prior generation stock for stock. I drove Jadrice's 08 STi when he had his and it handled really well with nothing done to it but race tires. He said that the front bar really helped its composure as well once he did that.

Then the engine blew up and he bought a CR.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

3174 since I have the base (no heated seats, no sun roof (kills head room by the way), no fancy stereo and no fog lights). I think the Premium package adds 100+ lbs and the STi is more like 3400 or so.

Not sure about weight dist though.

Like I mentioned, the shocks are blah at best. I'm really optimistic for the Bilsteins really cleaning up up the handling of the WRX.

EDIT: Edmunds has the weight dist as you mentioned Keith... not sure how accurate Edmunds is.

Also, there are a lot of people getting 09/10 WRXes dynoing at 225-235 hp at the wheels......no there is not only 10-13% driveline loss in an AWD car so it's definitely underrated even at 265 chp.

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

3174 is with a full tank, spare etc If you show up with a 1/4 tank and remove the spare and such I suspect it loses at least an additional 125-150lbs or so. I think DS or TIR is the only place for the GH cars...the STi being on the same line just kills its chances in STU and BSP, not to mention the other entrants... Maybe someone with enough money time and desire can build a limit-up GH car for BSP, but I just can't see it being competitive. (It could be worse--one could try to drive the Impreza GT/ '08 WRX )

With the way Mr Short is progressing in his skillz, certain 135i and ITR drivers may be thankful he stayed in TIR class this year...

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

James/Steve, that is good intel

Any interest in a co-driver at ZMax on the 20th James? I'd pay for your entry, lunch, etc..

Driving one on course and driving it on the street are two different things. PM me if you have interest. Thanks - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Aaron is a great guy to share a car with. A++. Seriously, he's a great driver, and may be able to offer some setup advice too. I had a lot of fun a couple years ago when we codrove the S2000.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Don't lie to the man, Aaron is an A++ alright, an A++ a-hole.

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'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

Back to the question of Mini Coopers: John and Bobbie Byers now own the Purple Turtle and will be autocrossing it. Smart Cars of Cary now owns my 2002 yellow S2000. If anyone wants an S2000 in excellent condition with Koni yellow shocks, that is were to go.

I now own a yellow 2007 Mini Cooper S. Lots of nice daily driving features, great steering feel, wicked torque (and torque steer), 27MPG in short commute in-town driving.

I have already picked up a 2nd set of OEM wheels. One set is 16s, the other is 17s.

The question is whether to mount autocross tires on the 16 or 17s. Any thoughts on that?

Of course Hoosier A6 are the hot tire, but they are rediculously expensive.

How does the Mini S do on Kumhos? Any thoughts on that?

Thanks, Pitch

Thanks Karl. You are too kind.



So are you Les... Bitch


I want to thank James for giving me a ride. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Really? [Channeling Mr. Buckley] Bring it!

I've driven a couple of the '09's set up for DS and I don't think they can quite get it done. The power numbers look great and the torque curve seems to be better than the earlier cars on paper but it just doesn't translate very well to an AutoX environment for whatever reason.

They are a rocketship once they get going but they seem to lose enough time spooling up after getting back to the throttle that it is a wash. If you try to minimize the effect by aggressive left foot braking while still on the throttle, the drive-by-wire system does weird things. I'm sure they would be great on the right type of course but, in that case, I'd still give the nod to the 135i.

There were some very good drivers to try them out last year but none of them showed up at Nationals in one. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not...

With that said, they should make a very good ProSolo car and I'd love to see Aaron get one and try to prove me wrong.

Jim

Speaking of DS (my favorite class . . . in 1977 ) there is some "support" for the idea of putting the 2011 Mustang V-6 (the one with 305 HP, 280 lb-ft Torque, Mustang GT suspension, 19 inch wheels, limited slip) in DS. The idea is that the new version is too fast for the traditional class for V-6 Mustangs and Camarobirds which is GS. How do you current DS experts think it would do? FYI the actual car weight will be around 3500 lbs, not the 3700 or so in the Ford Media specs. Gearing won't be a problem . . . probably mid 60's on R tires. Lots of low end torque likely given this engine is also used in 4000lb plus "boxes". FYI the "good" suspension and 19 inch tire version won't be available until August so it might not be legal in 2010 unless the SEB classifies it prior to release. The other versions can easily be classified prior to the deadlines in the rule book if the SEB chooses to do so.

Dick

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT